Feeding apparatus for thrashing machines



T. MCN. PARK. FEEDING APPARATUS FOR THRASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAIL-IZ. i920.

Patented May 9, 2 SHEETS-SHEET l- T. McN, PARK. FEEDING APPARATUS FOR THRASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FTLED MAR. I2, 1920.

Patented May 9, 1922'.

2 SHEETS-$HEE 2 irren THOMASJVICNIKLE- PARK, 'OJT'LAKE BOLAC, VIC'JRLQ,` AUSTRALIA.

FEEDING- .APPARATUS FOR 'JHRUSEIING?l1v1'.cicli-)SINES.v j

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led March 12, 1920. V[Serial NoA 365,303.

useful Improved;l Feeding Apparatus for Thrashing Machines, of which the following` is a specification. v

This invention relates to thrashing machine feeding apparatus of the `kind wherein the material to ybe thrashedvis conveyed from a hay stack or the like, placed upon a feed belt and conveyedl to -themachine without distinction being Y made between different classes of material so -far as the'manner of feeding is concerned. Experience shows that light material and tough material, for example7 should not beA fed alike to the thrasher and that it is very desirable in some instances to feedtheheads of grain ahead of their stalks' or hay, and in ot1 er instances to lfeed the whole laterally, and that'by varying'the manner of feeding or direction of delivery betterresults are. obtained in thrashing.`

The object of this invention is to provide apparatuswhereby material may be conveyed fronrany stack or'position around the `machine and whereby anydesired` variation in the direction of feeding to the thrashing machine may be effected, thereby yobtaining better results without calling for undue manual -labor or skill. ther, 'may be. easily applied -to existing thrash-ing machines, is comparatively cheap to manufacture, and does `not require con-V stant attention.'y l

Referring to theldrawings which form part. of this specification Figure11 is a sideelevaticn of the vfeeding apparatus the turn-table and conveyor and subsidiary parts being omitted for convenienee of illustration Figure 2 is a plan of the invention, parts being omitted and=brolren away for convenience of illustration.

Figureris an end view looking in the direction of thearrow Figure 1, parts being omitted and broken away for convenience of .illustration-.1'

The invention, fui'-V F igure' is a perspective detail view of a centre sliding bearing.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view show- `ing the manner of securing a tine to an os.VVV

cillating shaft.

Figure 6 is a plan of Figure 5.

Patented May, 1922.1

F igure7 is a side elevation of Figure, r

parts being omitted. and broken away for` convenience of illustration.. n The'invention includes a casing having right side 2 andra left'side 3. Extending be tween the sides'is a bottoni 4c inclined from the front downwardly towards the back of the casing.

ing machine. Above the casing-is a sta- Y The casing. is disposed above,or over, or .within the feed hopper of a'thrash `1 tionary-supportingring .or table preferably f.

of angle ,section comprisingfa fiat or horizontal portion .-5. and an upstanding flange or collar 6 formed on the the horizontal portion. Resting` upon the flat or horizontal portion 5 is a ring or vturntable ofsimilar section to the stationary table and having a flat horizontalvportion 7 and an upstandingI-collar 8. The turn.. table is retained .in position by suitable ,tongues or the like9 projectingvoiitwardly from -the upstanding collar 6.

inner periphery of The turntable carries a series of antifric-y tion rollers 11 whereby the turntable mayV beeasilyrotated by hand to bring the conveyor, hereinafter referred to, into any desired positioniin which it may be locked by-a locking pin or .pins 12 passing through locking pin holes in the horizontal or flatz portions-5 and 71 of theturntable and supporting table.

Carried by the' turntable or extensions `therefrom is a main conveyor-shaft 13 to which is pivoted the inner end of a cone veyor trough 14:.' This is of any desired fe o length and extends outwardly from vthe turntable. The conveyor shaft 13 may be driven in any suitable-manner, but preferably is provided with a belt pulley 15 at each of its ends. Located within the .troughis an endless conveyor band 16 which passes around a.. `roller or pulley Y17 upon the intermediate portion of the conveyor'shaft 13 and also around an idle roller 18 located at the outer end of the trough 14.' Any suitablemeans may be `provided for raising and lowering anyidesiredf position.v `l^ Such means may comprise a` yoke 19, the lower ends of the legs of which are pivoted to a pin 2O carried by the turntable or extensions therefrom. A limit stop 21 is carried by the trough 14 to limit the fall of the yoke. Mounted in the upper end of the yoke 19 is a pulley 22 over which passes a line 23, one end of which is secu-red to the trough 14 and the other end of which is secured to a drum 24 secured upon a shaft 25 mounted in suitable bearings carried by the turntable. Secured upon the shaft 25 is also a worm wheel 26 engaged by a hand operated worm 27. r1`he stop 21 may be dispensed with and a removable stay be disposed between the top of the yoke and any suitable part of the turntable.

Mounted in suitable bearings disposed at the front of the casing is a lateral shaft 30 having a driving pulley 31. Disposed upon the right hand end of said shaft are inner and outer right sliding toothed wheels 32-33 united by a collar 34. Engaging the collar 34 is a fork 35 operated by a suitable lever. Mounted upon the left end of the driving shaft 30 are inner and cuter left sliding toothed wheels 36-37 united by a collar 38. Engaging the collar 38 is a fork 39 controlled by a suitable lever.

Loosely mounted upon the shaft- 30 are bevel wheels 90-91, each of which may be utilized to rotate a belt pulley 92. Engaging the bevel wheels 90-91 is a third bevel wheel 93 connected to rotate a belt pulley 94. Slidably mounted upon the shaft 30 is a clutch sleeve 95 adapted to enga-ge either of the wheels 90-91. `When the conveyor is at right angles to the feed belts hereinafter described, which position has been shown for convenience in the drawings, the sleeve 95 by engagement with the correct bevel wheel 90 or 91 causes the pulley 94, by a suitable belt, to rotate the corresponding pulley 15 in the required direct-ion.4 e

liilhen the conveyor is at right angles to the position shown in the drawings or parallel with the feed belts hereinafter described, the corresponding pulley 15 is rot-ated by a belt driven by one of the pulleys 92, the belt being crossed when necessary to maintain the travel of the conveyor in the correct direction. By universally mounting the pulley 94 to swivel in any direction the pulleys 92 may be dispensed with.

Mounted .in suitable bearings and laterally disposed across the front of the casing behind the shaft 30 are right and left hand shafts 41 and 42. Secured to the outer end of the right shaft 41 are inner and outer toothed wheels 42E-44. Secured to the outer end of the left shaft 42 are inner and outer toothed wheels 45 46. Carried by the right shaft 41 is a. front right drum 47. Carried by the left sha-ft 42 is a front left drum 48, Passing around the front right drum 47 is a right feed belt 49, the lower end of which passes around a rear right drum 59 mounted upon a right idle shaft 51. Passing around the front left drum 48 is a left feed belt 52 the lower end of which passes around a rear left drum 53 mounted upon a left idle shaft 54.

Mounted upon the outer end of the right hand shaft 41 is a right eccentric 55 having a strap 56 secured to one end of a connecting rod 57. The other end of the connecting rod by a pivot pin 58 is pivoted to the lower end of an arm 59 the upper end of which is secured to the outer end of a right oscillating shaft 60. T he outer end of the right oscillating shaft 60 is mounted in a right sliding bearing 62. The inner end of the right oscillating shaft 60 is mounted in the right end of a centre sliding bearing 63. Mounted upon the outer end of the left hand shaft 42 is a left eccentric 64 having a strap 65 secured to one end of a connecting rod 66 the other end of which by a pivot pin 67 is pivoted to the lower end of an arm 68. r1`he upper end of the arm 68 is secured to the outer end of a left oscillating shaft 69. The outer end of the left oscillating shaft 69 is mounted in a left sliding bearing 70. The inner end of the left oscillating shaft 69 bears in the left end of the centre bearing 63 before mentioned.

Outstanding from each of the right, centre and left sliding bearings 62, 63, 70 is a guiding rib 72. '1 he rib of each bearing moves in a slot 73 formed in an inclined slideway 74 carried by the casing. Pivoted to the oscillating shafts 60-69 or the sliding bearings thereof are the lower ends of a series of links 75, the upper ends of which are pivoted to a lateral pivot bar 76. Pivoted to the lateral pivot bar 76 are the upper ends of a series of arms 77 the lower ends of which are secured to a rocking shaft 78 mounted in suitable bearings carried by the back 79 of the casing.

Secured to one end of the rocking shaft 78 is the inner end of a. hand lever 81 having at its outer end a pivoted finger lever 82 connected to an operating wire 83 adapted to operate a spring controlled pawl 84 engaging a racked quadrant 85 carried by the casing.

Secured to each oscillating shaft 60-69 is a series of U shaped straps 86. Each U shaped strap 86 embraces the upper end of a tine 87. Passing through each U shaped strap 86 and the tine 87 thereof is a holding bolt 88. i

wWith this invention the conveyor trough 14 is first elevated to the desired altitude and the sheaves of hay thrown from the stack onto the conveyor band 16 by which they are carried along and dropped or delivered upon the feed belts 49-52. Any binding bands around the sheaves may be cut in any suitable manner. By operating the forks 35-39 the belts travel'at the same speed the materialwillv be delivered evenly;` The Vdistance be!" geregelte sliding toothed* wheels "associatedwith either causing the belts 49-52to move towards the tines 87 of the apparatus.' As the shafts 41,'-

42 rotate, the eccentrics thereon cause the oscillating shafts to operate thereby-rocking the tines to and fro abov'ef-thebelts. An even feed is thereby maintained-=-`- Shouldlfo'ne# belt be travelling fasterthaln the others-fit` is' obvious that the end of the material uponi` that belt will be deliveredto the thrashing' machine ahead of that portion of thema-- terial resting upon the other belt; lythis means the heads of material may be delivered chines, f comprising a turntable"`-having *an ahead Vof the. stalks or vice versa; If both tween the'lower ends of 4the tines and the feed' belts may be regulated by operatingthe hand lever 81 in relationto the rackedl quadsU rant S5. The rocking shaftf/S thereby causes the lateral pivot vbar -76 through the linkst pivoted thereto, to raise or lower the slid ing bearings 62-63-70 in their vslideways 74. Thequantity'of material fed is thereby 't regulated.

As the l:heightbf astaclr dimi-nshes,^the outer end of the conveyor troughqmay be lowered by turning the shaft 25 and drum 24 or in any other suitable manner so that the said outer end is always convenient-ly situated to the operators. The conveyor may also be moved into any desired circumferential position by rotating the turntable and then locking the same by the pins 12. The conveyor belt 16 may be driven by the belt pulleys and gearing described or in any other suitable manner.

The whole apparatus may be conveniently mounted upon a thrashing machine or other portable apparatus and moved from place toplace therewith.v

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Feeding apparatus for thrashing machines, comprising a turntable; a conveyor carried by the turntable to move bodily therewith; a plurality of delivery belts arranged side by side beneath the turntable and movable in the same direction to receive the material from the conveyor and discharge it at substantially the same point; and means for individually varying the speed of each belt.

2. Feeding apparatus for thrashing machines, comprising a movable support; a conveyor carried by said support to move bodily therewith; a plurality of delivery belts arranged side by side beneath said sup- -jport'and movablein thef'same direetionto 'Y receive the material from thefconveyor and '-discharge'- it-v at substantially the "same v point and f mea/nsl for -individu'allyvarying the*v- `speed of eaehbeltf 3. F eedlngf apparatus -for thrashing l'ma-- chines; comprising "a support; a conveyor carriedthereby; a plurality of deliverybeltsarranged side by side beneath 'saidsupportand vmovable'- vin the` same direction -to re- 1 ceive the material from the conveyor and d-ischarge it at substantially thesame point; -a

drive sha-ft; individual gear connection'sbe--A tween sald-shaftiandreach belt; each gear connection includ-ing a changespeed devicev and f. an oper-ating device `for eachY change-:f

speed device'to ind-ividuallyyary the-speedY 4. Feeding fapparatus lforthra'shing ma-i# to discharge the? material -ther'ethrough' a "hanging the `open-portion of said= turntable* a plurality of delivery beltslarranged sideby i side beneath the turntable to receive'the'inas-- "terial discharged .from the- Aconveyor, -said belts movingrin the same directionlso as to discharge Athe "material at substantially the' same -point; -"iand= means-forE varying the speed of each beltf 9 5 :individually j 5. Feeding apparatu'sf for?"thrashingHman:Y chines;` fcomprisrng turntable vhaving =an open central portionyaconveyor- 'having its discharge endmountedw on the-'rimwof the turntable to move therewith, said end overhanging the open portion of said turntable to discharge the material therethrough; a plurality of delivery belts arranged side by side beneath the turntable to receive the material discharged from the conveyor; said belts moving in the same direction so as to discharge the material at substantially the same point; a drive shaft; individual gear connections between said shaft and each belt; each gear connection including a changespeed device; and an operating device for each change-speed device to individually vary the speed of each belt.

6. Feeding apparatus for thrashing machines, comprising a turntable; a conveyor carried by the turntable to move therewith; a plurality of delivery belts arranged side by side beneath the turntable and movable in the same direction to receive the material from the conveyor and discharge it at substantially the same point; a set of tines arranged above each belt; means for individually varying the speed of each belt; and means for individually oscillating each set of tines accordantly with the speed of the corresponding belt.

Feeding apparatus for thrashing machines, comprising a turntable; a conveyor i l t I* r'f f. i n l carried by the turntable to move therewith; a plurality of delivery belts arranged side by side beneath the 'turntable and movable in the same direction to receive the material from the conveyor and discharge it `at substantially the same point; a set of tines arranged above each belt; driving` means individual to each belt; and connections betvveen each driving means and the corresponding set of tines for oscillating the latter.

8. ln an improved feeding apparatus for thrashing machines, a turntable, means for locking the saine in adjusted position, a conveyor trough carried by the turntable to turn therewith, a travelling conveyor band within the tr ugh, a Winding drum carried by the turntable, connections between the drums and the trough for elevating the outer end of the trough when the drum is rotated, a plurality of travelling feed belts disposed below the turntable to receive the material discharged by the conveyor, a change speed gear associated with each belt, a plurality of tines above the belts, means for oscillating the tines, and means for raising and lowering the tines.

9. ln an improved feeding apparatus for thrashing machines, a plurality of travelling feed belts, means for varying` the speed of each belt independently, a series of devices located above the belts for regulating the quantity of material fed by said belts, 4and means for adjusting the position of said devices in relation to the belt.

10. ln an improved feeding apparatus for i relents thrashing machines, a casing, a plurality of feed belts moving therein, a change speed gear associated with each belt, an oscillating shaft carried by the casing and extending across said belts, a plurality of depending tines carried by the shaft, a plurality of sliding bearings supporting the shaft, ,and a hand lever for adjusting the bearings to regulate the position of said shaft and tines With relation to said belts and thereby control the quantity of material fed by the belts.

1l. ln an improved feeding apparatus for thrashing machines, a turntable, means for locking the same, a conveyor trough carried by the turntable to turn therewith, a conveyor band Within the trough, means for driving the band -when disposed at different positions around the turntable, a casing belov.7 the turntable, a plurality of feed belts moving through the casing in position to receive the material discharged by the conveyor, a variable speed gear controlling each belt, a plurality of sliding bearings mounted in the casing, a shaft mounted in the bearings and extending across said belts, means for oscillating the shaft, a plurality of tines carried by the shaft, a plurality of links associated with the oscillating shaft, a rocking shaft associated with the links to raise and lower the tine-carrying shaft and a hand lever controlling the rocking shaft.

ln testimony whereof l affix my signature.

THOR/IAS MGNICKLE lQARK.

`Witness rl. A. Nnvn'r'r. 

